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36,182
signatures
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Background
Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China lacked a referendum, denying its people self-determination. We think this undemocratic act was worsened by refusing BN(O)s full UK citizenship, a right we think they deserved as former British subjects. The BN(O) visa offers residency and a path to citizenship, but we think it doesn't correct this historical injustice. We think BN(O)s, under British colonial rule, should have the same rights as any British citizen.
We believe this would uphold the principles of democracy and human rights by correcting historical wrongs and ending inequality.
Government response28 Apr 2025
We remain committed to the BN(O) route, allowing BN(O)s and their families to live, study, and work in the UK. However, we have no plans to amend the law to grant immediate British citizenship.
The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route allows those with BN(O) status and their eligible family members to come to the UK to live, study and work in virtually any capacity, on a pathway to acquiring British citizenship. The current requirements for a person with BN(O) status to gain citizenship are in line with those for naturalisation, allowing a person to demonstrate a continuing connection with the UK.
The UK, in its Memorandum following the Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 on the future of Hong Kong, made a commitment that those who were British Dependent Territories Citizens only through a connection with Hong Kong would be eligible to retain a status which, without conferring the right of abode in the UK, would entitle them to continue to use passports issued by the UK Government. It is important that the UK upholds the commitments it made as part of the Joint Declaration. We therefore have no plans to amend the current law in regard to BN(O) status.
Nevertheless, we remain committed to the people of Hong Kong and to supporting BN(O) status holders and their family members who choose to come to the UK. After five years in the UK, those on the BN(O) route can apply for settlement, and after a further 12 months, they can apply for British citizenship under section 4(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981.
Information on applying for citizenship is available at: https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship/how-to-apply.
There are also other circumstances where BN(O)s can be registered as British citizens:
• the British Nationality Hong Kong Act 1997 provides for the registration of British nationals who would otherwise be stateless and are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong; and
• BN(O)s can also apply for registration under section 4B of the 1981 Act if they do not have another citizenship or nationality.
Home Office